I awoke before the sun, the record player clicking slowly on the end grove. Obsidian was sleeping soundly on my chest, still a contented smile on her face. At some point of the night I had laid back, and a generous part of her girth rested on top of me. I gently kissed to tip of her ear, seeing it twitch and hearing her coo softly in her sleep. I knew the sun would be up soon, so I tried to lift her gently, so I could get back to my room but in an absurd moment I realized that I couldn't. Here I was, trapped under the beautiful, content mare, at her mercy until she chose to awake. I Laughed to myself, this was one of the most bizarre predicaments I ever found myself, imprisoned by an adorable jailer.
Abruptly Obsidian's deep blue eyes opened, as if somepony flipped a switch and awoke her and her entire body jerked just in time for me to hear a bugler play in the hall, waking us up for duty.
"Good morning," She said as she stood up.
"Morning," I returned, "That's a neat trick, waking up right before the bugler,"
Obsidian stepped into her shower, and I heard the water running. "You'll be able to do it too if you've been in the guard as long as I have. Hey, get in here,"
I reluctantly complied, showering with mares in Saddle Arabia was against the law, even if it was commonplace here. In the small, steamy bathroom Obsidian stood under the warm water, her ink-black wet mane running over her shoulders like a river of shadow. I stepped into the stream of warm water and allowed It to wash over me. We stepped out of the shower and tossed a towel Into my face, as I endeavored to dry my long mane.
"I, had a really good time last night," I admitted,
"And you didn't even get any," She said with a gentle laugh.
I almost spoke what I was thinking, looking at Obsidian's shapely flanks, the water from the shower still glistening on her rump. I realized it was better not to.
"It was still nice, regardless." I said.
"I had fun too." She said, "But today you're being presented to the princess. . .so concentrate."
"Right," I agreed, finding it quite difficult to do so as Obsidian wiggled herself into her toga. "I've looked forward to meeting the princess my entire life,"
"She's really sweet," Obsidian said. "A few years ago I got bit by a timber wolf," She said, holding out a leg to show the scar, "The Princess actually visited me in the infirmary, then wrote me these letters telling me that I was important and I needed to get better."
"Amazing," I said, smiling distantly, "The Tajir, were just a bunch of greedy rich ponies who didn't care. Now I have the chance to serve. . .a Goddess of light,"
"Now, you should know she hates being called that," Obsidian said. "She's immortal, really powerful, but in a lot of ways she's just like us. She's just lived long enough to know how to take care of ponies."
I grinned, "What else is a Goddess but that?" I said,
"You got yourself a princess crush or something?" Obsidian asked.
I grinned shyly, "Not, like that. I just . . .always wanted to serve a cause worth serving."
"Wow," Obsidian said, "I guess I just take my job for granted, when you put it like that it makes me feel a lot better about what I do."
We looked into one another's eyes, almost sharing a kiss but thinking better of it, we were on duty after all.
"I better powder my coat," I said, pushing the door open on my way to the hall,"
"I'll see you at breakfast," Obsidian said, "I hope you'll sit with me."
"Sure, what do they serve on Fridays?"
"Oatmeal and peach cobbler,"
"Sounds good," I said.
"Prepare to be surprised," She said with a grin.
---*---
Once we got to the mess hall I found she was right. The oatmeal had the consistency of paste and the clobber was sweet, but it tasted as if it was made the day before. Of all the unprecedented luxuries of life in the Royal guard I was surprised how bland the food was. Not terrible, just bland. I imagined that there was some universal law that decreed that without exception military food had to be bland at best. We were both hungry, and having been taught by Obsidian how peaceful silence could be, we ate without words, sharing the glance Every few moments as we sipped our coffee.
Just was we were halfway through our meal we saw Four Speed and Morning Blast walk up to our table, Blast pointing at the two empty chairs and looking at Obsidian. The mare paused, and nodded. The two sat.
"Morning Windjammer," Four Speed said,
"Morning Guys," I said.
"Morning Obsidian," Morning Blast said.
Obsidian smiled and bowed her head in response.
"Oh come on, I heard you were talking now!" Morning Blast said.
"We've known you for years and never heard a peep," Four Speed said, "And Windjammer here, with his schoolboy good looks shows up and you talk his ear off, that's not fair."
"Sure you can't just give us one little good morning?" Morning blast asked,
"Sorry, but no." Obsidian said, meekly.
All four of us shared a hearty laugh,
"That's what you sound like?" Four speed said, his wings extending in surprise. "That's bucking adorable!"
Obsidian blushed, "Stop it," she said.
"Here I was thinking you sounded like a griffon power lifter or something," Four speed said, "You're like a jumbo Fluttershy,"
"I can confirm she can't sing very well," I joked,
"Neither can you!" Obsidian shot back.
"Let me get this strait,"Four speed asked as he pulled a bag of sugar from his tunic, adding som to his Oatmeal, "One of the prettiest mares in the whole guard asks you back to her room and all you do is sing a duet?"
"Further than you'll ever get," Obsidian said with a wink.
"And you're sassy," Four speed said, "I'm learning all kinds of new things about you."
"You never once spoke to those guys?" I asked.
"No," Obsidian said. "But, they talk to me and I listen. Morning Blast here is very sweet, very calm, but when he gets mad no enemy on the planet can stand up to him. He sends some of his pay to his sister because he worries about her and her pottery business"
Morning Blast shrugged, "The price of Clay is going up, I don't want her to go out of business,"
"Four Speed, well he's in the guard because he think mares like a stallion in armor, but he's loyal and one of the best swords ponies in the guard since his father is a fencing teacher. He got his cutie mark pulling a cart for his uncle's freight business. He's got a thing for bat-ponies too, thinks their the cutest thing around."
"Hey that's a secret!" Four speed said with mock offense, "And I'm not just in the guard for the mares, I also like the coffee,"
"It's better than the Oatmeal," Morning Blast added.
"I know you would probably prefer to go to tree and k-I-s-s-I-n-g after we're off duty tonight," Four Speed joked, "But tonight, after the Presentation, why don't you two come by the NCO Club so we can celebrate properly, okay?"
"We have tomorrow off so we don't have to worry about waking up early," Morning bast said.
"What do you mean, we have tomorrow off?" I asked.
"Third platoon has Saturday off," Obsidian said,
"What do we do on our day off?"
"Sleep in," Four speed said around his coffee.
"Go shopping," Morning Blast said. "I don't know, whatever you want."
"You didn't get days off when you were a legionnaire?" Obsidian asked.
"No," I said, realizing it myself. "I mean, sometimes we'd get a little time to ourselves, we sometimes went on leave,"
"Well, the Royal guard is supposed to keep bad things from happening." Morning Blast said. "If things are quiet and we have nothing to do, it means we're doing things right."
"In the Legion we looked for trouble," I said, remembering. "Most of the time we caused it, but we were indentured to the Tajir we had to do what they said."
"I heard you talk about them before," Obsidian said, "Who are the Tajir?"
"The Merchant class of Saddle Arabia," I explained, "They run the entire Economy."
"It's been a while since cultures class in school, but thought the Sheiks controlled Saddle Arabia," Morning blast said.
"It's complicated, but the Tajir kind of operate by their own rules." He said. "As long as they pay their taxes they Sheiks can't to anything to stop them from taking ponies like my father and my brothers into indentured servitude. I escaped but my father is still there. He works in the oil fields, but the Tajir charge him for food, housing and cloths, and each year he and my brothers wind up Further in debt."
"These Tajir guys sound like grade-a scumbags," Four speed said,
"That can't be legal, we should tell somepony," Morning Bas said.
"There is nothing that can be done, the Tajir control the courts" I said, "But I can pay the Tajir for my family's freedom. After a year or so he'll have the money and he can move back to his old place in Kaleel, with Mom."
"Your Mom ain't . . .indentured like your Dad?" Four speed asked.
"No, my mother is full-blooded Saddle Arabian and they can't be servants according to the law." He said. "Only Equestrian ponies, or half-breeds like me and my brothers. She tried everything to free Dad and my brothers, but she can't even see him until he's free. The Tajir control all the courts."
My reminiscing seemed to have soured the mood a the table. The others were sharing different emotions. Obsidian looked sad, Morning Blast seemed to be fighting a rising anger, Four speed rubbed his chin, trying to think of a way to help me but rapidly becoming frustrated as he could think of noting. While my life was tragic I hated to bring down the mood, I searched my memory for a happy memory, anything that could assure everypony my life wasn't one long series of unfortunate events.
"I have good memories of my mother." I said, "Even if I haven't seen her since I was little. They don't have Hearth's Warming Eve in Saddle Arabia, but my Dad didn't want my brothers and I to forget Equestria so we put on our own Little pageant. My brothers and I always fought over who got to be commander hurricane, I usually ended up being princess platinum but. . .i made it work. My mother Jamila made almond cake since she never learned how to make Equestrain sweets, it was wonderful though. We did't have money for gifts so Dad taught us to carve wood so we all made our own toys out of bits of scrap wood we found and we'd exchange them. My mother still has every last one we ever made her, every misshapen zebra and crooked tree."
I realized I had tears in my eyes, as they started to run down my cheeks.
"We had a good life." I heard myself say, "And nothing can make up for all the time lost. . .but now that I'm here I can free my family, and I will."
"Royal Guards stick together," Four Speed declared, banging a hoof on his chest, "So if there is anything we can do to help, you have us on your side.
"It's just a matter of time, before I set them free." I said, "But, nonetheless . .Thank you."
---*---
After practicing the ceremony, lunch, an hour or two on patrol, the time had come. I made sure my coat was still a brilliant white, slipped into my bright red dress uniform, and was headed for the palace for my audience with the princess, the Moment I'd been waiting for. Just outside the Hall of the palace, Obsidian, in her full Line Breaker armor offered to brush out my mane, as It had become tanged underneath my helmet from the day's patrol.
This was the first time I'd ever seen Obsidian in her full suit of armor, it was impressive. Line breakers were meant to charge into formations and break them up using brute strength. Because of this the armor covered her head to foot, nothing showing but her bright eyes though her helmet's visor, and even those would be covered when she pulled down the eye guard. It was decorated with detailed engravings of Suns and landscapes, just as it was beautiful it was intimidating, especially with the leather scabbard of a massive broadsword along her side. Obsidian was large without the armor and in it she appeared almost like an invincible giant From another world. I was surprised I ever had to courage to fight her, or for that matter kiss her.
"You look great," She said, her voice muffled by the helmet.
I turned my head up to kiss the breaths of her helmet, she touched my shoulder gently.
"You have an appointment with your princess, you ready?"
"Yeah," I said, embarrassed at a squeak in my voice.
Obsidian giggled, and whispered in my ear "You'll do fine."
We entered the red-carpeted hall of the palace, there was Four Speed, Morning Blast and Starshine wielding their spears and they fell in line with the other guards present. Obsidian stood in front of them with her fellow line breakers, some almost as big as her. I stepped to my place pace at the forefront and focussed on the doors to the throne room. Sonambula joined our little formation, standing next to me, his own armor festooned with a large banner that came from his back.
"Don't be nervous, Windjammer." He said, "Just follow the routine."
"I've waited my entire life for this moment," I said.
"You'll do fine," Sonambula said. "And. . .don't kiss her hoof,"
I smiled to myself, "I was warned about that one Master Sergeant,"
I heard the herald call my name. A week ago I was hiding under a bridge and eating a turnip stem I found in the garbage and today my name was being spoken by a royal herald in the throne room of a Princess. Then, the doors open and I saw her, there on her throne, her animate mane surrounded her like an aura of color and her entire body seemed to glow in the sunlight being cast through the stained glass in a thousand new colors I never thought I would see. I heard the trumpet, and put one hoof in front of another, marching on that red carpet and hearing the clank and clatter of the line breakers behind me. Captain shining armor stood at the side of the throne, his wife who's name escapes me looking on. The couple both smiled as I entered, and the pink Alicorn leaned to speak to her husband as he nodded. I had the sinking suspicion she was talking about me, which I guess wasn't unusual since I was being presented to the princess. The detail stuck in my memory, but I never figured out what it was about.
I struggled to steady my breath as I bowed, presented my sword and spoke my oath.
"My Princess, Monarch of the sun, ruler of Equestria, I offer you my sword and my life to you, to serve you and protect you, to stand by you, to speak of you with reverence, and to stand against all your enemies until I meet a glorious end in your service."
"I, Princess Celestia, do hereby accept your oath, Windjammer." She said. "Serve me with integrity, Wisdom and compassion. Rise, Royal guard."
I stood and saluted along with the rest of the guard behind me. Then there was a few seconds where I was worried I had missed something, Sonambula never really told me what to do after the Princess Accepted my oath.
"Windjammer, how are you finding life in the guard so far?"
I was dumbfounded, with the weight of the world on her shoulders she seemed interested in me, a lowly sergeant in her guard.
"Very good, your Majesty."
"I do hear complaints about the food,"
There as a bit of laughter from the guard behind me.
"Compared to most military food it's positively Gourmet" I said.
The princess Smiled broadly. Which made me realize I just tried to crack a joke in front of the princess.
"If you have any problems, do not hesitate to pass me a message. Or bring them up with shining armor. I appreciate the sacrifices my guards make to protect me, and I will do my best to make you comfortable."
"You are most generous, your majesty."
I heard a distinctive clip cop of hooves on he marble floor leading to the throne room, as two frantic voices shouted. I recognized both voices were shouting in saddle-Arabian, but two fast for me to pick up what exactly they were saying.
"Princess! You cannot allow this farce!" One shouted.
"Your majesty! I'm sorry, I tried to stop him!"
I saw two ponies, both dressed in Saddle Arabian robes entering the throne room. The one closest to me I recognized instantly as a Tajir, his robes were a deep purple, trimmed with white, a large gold medallion festooning his neck. Aside from what he was wearing I knew him to be Tajir became of his considerable girth and perfectly round face. Without fail the Tajir carried the extra weight of their wealth and their Taste for rich foods. The second seemed familiar but I wasn't sure where I'd seen him, he was tall and thin, his coat a dappled grey, an he wore a white turban on his head decorated with a milky white gem of a royal office.
"Princess Celestia, I am Al-Abalah of the Tajir," He said charging toward the throne. "I demand that-"
The portly Tajir was interrupted by half a dozen spear tips dangerously close to his face as the guard in the room blocked his path. Al-Abalah's eyes widened and he could not speak.
"Your Majesty," the turbaned pony said Bowing, "A thousand Apologies, I was meeting with this brute in the Embassy and when he heard that Windjammer was saying his oath today and next thing I know he rushed in here, despite my many protests."
"It is forgiven Count Valeris, you are my ambassador to Saddle Arabia and this man's actions are not your fault."
"Sonambula, take this intruder to the dungeon and interrogate him," Shining Armor said,
"Hold," Princess Celestia said, raising a hoof. "He seems quite concerned about something, and I will hear him."
"Thank you your Majesty," Al-Abalah said with a shallow bow.
"Rest assured, any more breaches of Protocol will not be tolerated,"
The guards backed off, resting on their spears but all of them were staring at the Tajir, ready to spring into action at a moment. I had no doubt he wound't have been treated gently on his way to the dungeon.
"My Princess, know that I do not blame you for welcoming this infidel into your ranks, for like all his kind he is wily and a trickster, and you did not know of his devious nature."
"Are you speaking of Windjammer?" The Princess said, "I've found him quite delightful, why do you slander him so?"
"This pony is Deserter! He left the ranks of the Legion without paying off his debt! He was not permitted to leave the country, and his oath to you is fraudulent!"
I couldn't take it anymore, the threat of being sent back was enraging me, "General Sadil gave me my freedom for the battle of Juan-dar,"
"The General had no authority to free you!" Al-Abalah shouted, stepping toward me. "You defected and that adds to your debt! I should have you beaten!"
"You lay a hoof on him I'll break you in half," Morning Blast said, suddenly at my back.
"This Stallion is my rightful Property!" Al-Abalah said back.
"You're a fraud and everypony here knows it!" Four-speed shouted,
Obsidian stepped between me and Al-Abalah, and I swore I could hear her growling under that armor.
"Everypony be calm," The Princess said. "We will never be able to settle this if all we do is shout and threaten."
The Princess paused, looking back and forth to assure herself that everyone was calm before she spoke.
"Count Valeris, I am unfamiliar with the laws regarding indentured servitude in your country, and I thought that we'd throughly vetted Windjammer and found him to be free of it,"
"We did your majesty, we checked with General Sadil and he assured use that Windjammer had paid back his debt, but I'm afraid that the word of a Tajir supersedes the word of the General."
"Indeed your Majesty," Al-Abalah cut in. "Windjammer's family has been indentured to me for decades and despite working for me for all that time they have not gotten close to paying off their debts,"
"Perhaps you could explain to me how they could have worked for you and fallen further into your debt,"
"You must understand your Majesty," Al-Abalah said, as if he were explaining something to a child. "These ponies have to be housed, clothed and fed, and we must charge them for these services. Sadly many of these ponies are unskilled with money and wind up spending far more than they earn."
"So, what you're talking about is Slavery," Shining armor offered,
"Slavery is such a crass word for what we do," The Tajir said, "Slaves are slaves for life, our indentured workers are free to leave as soon as they pay off their debts, but we are willing to support them for as long as they remain in our service."
"How very Benevolent of you," Shining armor said Angrily,
"Thank you, Captain, we try to be merciful to the poor wretches." The Tajir said, not catching the Sarcasm.
"Al-Abalah please give me a moment to consult count Valeris on how to hand this matter." Princess Celestia said, sharing a hushed conversation with the count.
Al-Abalah stood in front of me, glaring into my eyes. "Windjammer, look at you, daring to stand before royalty, wearing that uniform like you somehow have earned it, this is an Insult!, if you do not cooperate with me I assure you there will be consequences."
"There is nothing you can do to me that is worse than what you've already done,"
"Oh really?" Al-Abarah said with a scowl, "Perhaps I've been to easy on your family, maybe your brothers are more suited for cleaning out cesspits, or I could put your father to work in the Sulfur Mines, how long would an elderly pony like him last in those stinking poisonous mines I wonder?"
I focussed on not speaking, if I was sure if I spoke again it would be roar of anger and frustration. If there was nothing Celestia could do, I would return to that life I had so hoped to leave behind. My father would die before seeing mother again, my brothers would never know this freedom. And Obsidian, after meeting a pony that truly understood me, that I could have made a life with in a better world. . . I would never see her again. She was to good to be with a slave or a pauper and that was my life. Then again, if there was one thing life had taught me, is that the world was indifferent to my happiness. I should have known that cruelty was what was rewarded in this world; and the Tajir were so much more cruel than any pony else.
"Al-Abalah," Princess Celestia Finally said. "What am I to Saddle Arabia?"
"Your Majesty, you hold no power in my homeland, you are a foreign monarch."
"Not Politically, where do I stand in your religious pantheon?"
The Tajir looked confused, "You are The first daughter of Cosmos the All-Father and Goddess of the sun and Morning, what does this have to with-"
"You say I have no power in your Homeland? Well I am lead to understand that a Deity in Saddle Arabia is capable of issuing a holy edict, known in your language as a 'fatwa' it supersedes all other laws and is not revocable as long as I'm alive, which will be a long time."
"That is true your Majesty," Al-Abalah stated matter-of factly "But a Fatwa cannot apply to an individual, or a family. You cannot use a Fatwa to free Windjammer, they must apply to everypony or no one."
"Oh I see," The Princess said. "So I cannot use a Fatwa to free Windjammer, I can only use one to free all the indentured. Thank you so much for clarifying that."
"Wait. . ." The Tajir began, his eyes wide with terror.
"Count Valeris, take this down," Celestia said, "I, Celestia DelSol, first daughter of Cosmos the All-father, goddess of the sun, do hereby decree that the practice of indentured servitude is hereby forbidden in all the world, and furthermore all who are indentured shall be released immediately and paid reparations in the amount of their debt. So let it be written, so let it be done."
Count Velaris dutifully wrote down the edict, holding it to Celestia for her to sign.
"Your Majesty, this is outrageous!" The Tajir shouted, "Release the workers? Pay them reparations? ThIs is not done! The Tajir will not abide this!"
"Well, that's your choice," The Princess said, "Count Valeris, what is the penalty for defying a Fatwa?"
"Beheading, your Majesty."
"Really? That seems a little extreme but it is what it is," She said with a shrug, "Obsidian? I believe your broadsword will do the job,"
Obsidian drew her broadsword and advanced on the Tajir who backed away and started to whimper. We all knew the princess would never allow an execution but Al-Abalah didn't know that, and we all stifled laugher as the portly pony begged for his miserable life.
"Mercy Princess! Mercy please!"
"Al-Abalah don't struggle or Obsidian may miss, It's been a while since I've seen a beheading but trust me, you want this done in one clean swipe."
"No! Please, we can discuss this,"
"Obsidian, stand down." Celestia said, turning her attention back to Al-Abalah. "As far as I can tell, the decision has been made."
"Count Valeris, this will ruin the Tajir, we will be bankrupt! You must take action!"
The Count raised an eyebrows and slowly turned to the Tajir, as if he'd forgotten he was there.
"The Sheiks and my house have been trying to rid Saddle Arabia of your stain for a thousand years, no tears would be shed for you. The action we will take will likely be a celebration."
"Count, send this edict to your contacts in the palace Immediately, I want the word spread."
"Yes your Majesty," Count Valeris said with a bow before he trotted out of the room.
"Princess Celestia we should-"
"Do we have any further business?" Celestia interrupted with a furrowed brow,
"I believe we should discuss-"
"No, we have nothing more to discuss," the princess Said. "Starshine, Four Speed, Remove this . . .instigator from my presence."
The two Guards grabbed Al-Abalah by the shoulders, leading him out of the room.
"If you feel like resisting, please Do," I heard Four Speed say, as they left the room, "I'd love the excuse."
"I need to speak with Windjammer Privately for a moment." The princess stated, everypony but her and I clearing the throne room At the order.
"Windjammer, I want you to know that I've been well aware of the crimes done to you and your family and I've been waiting for the best time to use my power of Holy edict to free my citizens that have been unjustly taken by the Tajir. This was it. I detest using my position in the pantheon to make such demands but I had not choice. Would I have been able this would have been done some time ago, I ask you forgive me for the delay."
"I am eternally in your debt my Princess," I said breathlessly,
"No, you are in no one's debt." The princess clarified. "And I know you doubtless grew up regarding me as divine. I insist to you that I am not. I only wish for your service, never your worship."
"But you are divine, you are benevolent, you put my well being before yourself,"
"And that is because of who I am, not because I am I goddess. I ask that you do not trade your slavery to the Tajir for slavery to me. Do your duty, but most of all I insist on do what makes you most happy. This is how you can make me happy. Just be yourself, and I am sure you'll do fine."
I didn't understand, but I knew there was a reason she was telling me this. She didn't want slaves, she didn't want blind followers or worshipers. She wanted ponies who chose to follow her grace, who did so because they wanted to. I asked myself then, why was I doing this? Was it for me, or her? And if it was for me. . .was that selfishness or altruism?
"Your Majesty, I'm here because I want to chance to fight for a good cause, and be rewarded for helping other ponies instead of being punished for it. I consider it an honor to serve you."
The Princess stood. "Then I am delighted to have you in my service Windjammer."
---*---
I was alive, taking long, deep breaths of the evening air and feeling as if every day before this I was choked, fearful of tomorrow. This was the first time I ever looked forward to he next day, things were getting better instead of worse. The changing of the guard was more beautiful that night, the sound of the trumpets, the marching ponies in sun steel armor under the orange light of the sunset. My hungry eyes took it in, it was a sign of a better life ahead of not just me,but my father, my brothers, and my mother who would be reunited and the Tajir who have been the source of my suffering would soon be bankrupt and forgotten.
I left the ceremony and returned to the day room and removed my armor, and obsidian and I showered together again, this time in my room. She informed me that Royal guards only powdered their coats if they were wearing partial armor. She was never required to do it but she did sweat a lot in her armor. As she left the shower she spotted the picture of my family in the window, which I popped up with a piece of tile I found in the bathroom.
"This your Dad?" Obsidian asked.
"Yeah,"
"Wait until he hears about what the Princess did," Obsidian said, slipping the ribbon on her tail.
"I'm still not sure I believe it." I said, "I don't have any idea how he'll react, he never let my brothers and I give up hope."
"I think tonight, celebration is in order." Obsidian said, "Maybe we should go by the club,"
"Maybe we should," I said, "Would you like to be my date?"
"Oh, so we're dating now," she joked.
"Well, if that works for you it works for me." I said,
"Let's see how you behave on our first date," Obsidian said, walking next to me and bumping me with her backside, almost knocking me out of the door. "Then maybe we'll see if you have another."
The NCO Club on a military base is usually a bar where enlisted personnel can relax after a hard day, it's usually a fully functioning bar. Since the palace wasn't a full fledged military base the NCO club wasn't a full bar, more like a clubhouse. It was in some kind of outbuilding near the walls that might have started it's life as a storage shed or a barn but at some point somepony moved in a pool table, a jute box, a few tables and couches and a couple of coolers. There was no bar, just a few coolers and cabinets where ponies grabbed their own drinks. The coolers were stocked by the guards themselves, buying whatever drinks and snacks they enjoyed and storing them in the club. Several bottles of liqueur that ponies had purchased on far flung assignments sat on crude wooden shelves along with random shot glasses and mugs. A barrel of ale, cider or beer (I wasn't sure) sat on it's side, tapped for ponies to drink from. The wall had pictures of guards and their families, recruitment posers and a bit of graffiti, Along with a neon sign that displayed the guard's motto "Always Ready" that flickered and buzzed, casting an orange light around the room. Though a few letters had gone out so it instead read "A ways R eady".
Sonambula sat near the juke box, reading a book and nursing a bottle of beer. Starshine was laying on her back on one of he couches, levitating a magazine above her head while munching on an Apple. Obsidian and I spotted Four Speed and Morning Blast at a table near the pool table, Four Speed with his foreleg around the shoulders of a purple bat pony who leaning on him giggling at something the stallion just said. There were a few chunks of cheese with stacks of crackers at the center of the table and a few pieces of bread with plates of dipping oil, simple pub food. Add a few olives and a bowl of dates and you'd find the same kind of thing in pubs all over Saddle Arabia.
"Windjammer! The Stallion of the hour!" Morning Blast said "Grab a bottle and sit down!"
I compiled, grabbing a random bottle of liquor off the shelf, handing it to morning blast and he poured five glasses, though he stumbled a bit, having obviously started without me.
"A toast!" He said. "To Windjammer, who freed the oppressed, and seduced the mighty Obsidian!"
"We didn't do anything," Obsidian laughed,
"Okay, so one of many stations who totally struck out with Obsidian!" He said drawing a laugh from the table.
We all drank in unison, then all gagged in unison as the powerful liqueur burned all the way down our throats.
"What the buck was that?!" The petite bat pony asked around her extended tongue.
I looked at the bottle, there was a picture of a muscular griffon wilding a massive battle axe ringed by fire, and writing in a foreign language.
"I have no idea," I Admitted. "I don't read Griffon."
Four Speed snatched the bottle from me, taking a swig directly from the bottle. "I think this is furniture cleaner," He said as he coughed, "Or Kerosine,"
"It's griffon fire whiskey," Star shine said from the couch, "Last time I drank that stuff something hit me in the side of the face and it turned out to be the floor."
"Let me get you folks a chaser," The Bat pony said, standing and giving Four speed a peck on the cheek, "What are you all drinking?"
"Whatever isn't that," Obsidian said.
"I'll have Ale, Nebula." Four Speed said,
"Ale all around! It's a good batch this week!" Morning Blast said.
I would learn later that there was a very old tradition that went all the way back to the founding of the guard. When the economy was distressed and The Princess was broke, she paid her bodyguard with a barrel of ale per week. The guard was happy to serve and would have done it for free, but they nonetheless appreciated the boon. When the treasury was big enough to allow the princess to pay her guard in gold, she considered it a raise but still provided them with a barrel of ale every week. Though the ale was donated by local breweries nowadays, first given to the princess who always passed it on to the guard.
I usually didn't like to drink, I was unaccustomed to it as alcohol was forbidden in the Saddle Arabia, but I was away from the sheik's laws now and one Ale likely wasn't enough to make me sick. As Nebula set down the large wooden mug I sipped it, I wasn't sure if it was good ale or bad ale but I liked it. Where I had sipped, Obsidian downed her entire mug in three gulps and grabbed a hunk of bread to take a bite that removed half the loaf. I found myself wondering how the Princess managed to feed this mare.
"Nebula, I've never met you before. Are you in the guard?" I asked.
"I'm in the Nocturne Guard," She said, "We serve Princess Luna. You wouldn't have met me because we're on different shifts."
"Nebula and I don't get a chance to get together a lot," Four Speed said, "But she's something else, so I try to make it work."
"What's Princess Luna like?" I asked.
Nebula thought, "She's loud," she said. "But, she treats us pretty well."
"Hey Obsidian, while you're being verbal, care to tell us where you got that scar on your leg? We always wondered." Morning Blast asked.
Obsidian was up refilling her mug, but turned to answer. "Timber wolf," She explained.
"Bet that was the worst day of that Timber wolf's life," Four speed laughed.
"It was," Obsidian said.
Nebula stood and lifted her tunic, showing a modest scar, "Check this, I got this from dragon fire!"
"Impressive, but look at this," I said, pulling the front of my tunic down, revealing the scars there "I once stopped to wash my face in a river and a crocodile bit me in the chest,"
"Ouch!" Obsidian said. "How did you get out of that one?"
"I just pulled it off, it was. . .a baby," I said with a humble laugh.
The table laughed for a moment, the sweet warmth of the alcohol making everything just a touch more funny. Four Speed slammed down his newly empty mug, struggling to his hooves.
"You wanna see a scar?" He offered, "I'm gonna show you the best scar you've ever seen,"
Morning Blast shook his head, "No they don't wanna see it, Four Speed,"
"Check this out!"
The Stallion pulled up his tunic and set his backside on the table causing the glasses and bottles to clink and clatter.
"Now if you can ignore my beautifully sculpted glutes," Four Speed stammered, "You will see TWO arrow scars, that I got defending the princess,"
"Get your ass off the table!" Nebula laughed,
"Windjammer! Look! Isn't it amazing?"
"I see it!" I said, laughing so hard I could barely form words,
Just then Morning Blast picked up a wooden tray off the table, smacking it across Four-speed's rump creating a surprisingly loud Smack, Four Speed stumbled forward rubbing his reddening rear and waddling away from the table. I was laughing so hard I almost choked on my ale.
"Hey! Stow that horseplay!" Sonambula shouted from around his book, "I won't have you guys making a mess in here,"
"Just showin' 'em my butt scars!" Four speed said,
"We've all seen them, Four speed." Sonambula said rolling his eyes. "Now Simmer down, all of you."
"Yes Master Sergeant," We chorused.
"Is this place always this rowdy?" I asked Obsidian,
She laid her head on my shoulder, I braced myself to keep it from toppling my chair. "Yeah, see why I never come in here?"
I sipped my ale, stroking her mane. "It's all about the company," I said, "So I don't mind."
Obsidian giggled around her upturned mug as she drank.
"I gotta apologize my man," Four Speed said, "When I first met you I figured you were like most Saddle Arabian Stallions."
"How so?" I asked, Even though I knew what he was referring too I wanted to see him explain it.
"You know," Four speed said, "Like. . .you walk on the other side of he fence,"
"If you mean I prefer stallions to mares, no. I prefer beautiful mares." I said, casting a glance to Obsidian. "That's not to say that in the past I haven't met a few handsome, adventurous colts."
"And I'm betting you were the Adventure," Nebula said with a fanged smile.
"Well," I said, feeing a blush on my cheeks, "It's not like me to kiss and tell."
Obsidian giggled, "You just drop clues shamelessly," she said.
"Okay, you don't have to say anything," Morning Blast interjected, "I know exactly how it went down,"
"Oh do you?" I said.
Morning blast took a long gulp from his mug before he spoke "Yeah, I learned about Saddle Arabian gay love from a very reliable source!"
"A stallion?" Four speed asked,
"No, a paperback novel I got at a train station," he said, as it explained everything "Now, there's this handsome young prince, Jaleel, best looking guy in the land with a rump that won't quit,"
"I like it so far!" Nebula said raising her mug.
"Now, he's got everything he wants, wealth, fame, but his father wants to force him into a loveless arranged marriage with an ugly daughter of a merchant,"
"Poor boy," Obsidian said with an exaggerated pout, "What will he do?"
"He finds happiness only in the arms of his bodyguard, Windjammer!" He said extending his hooves to me as if presenting me to a crowd, "He kept the prince warm on the cold desert nights, and taught him the ways of passion!"
"Oh my!" Obsidian said,
"Way to go Windjammer!" Nebula said, "Bringing happiness to that poor prince,"
"Is that how it really goes down In the desert?" Four Speed asked,
"No, Nothing like that at all." I said with a smirk.
Everypony seemed a little disappointed until I continued.
"He wasn't a prince, he was the son of a Maquis, and his name was Cassius."
The entire table, minus Obsidian who was laughing into her hooves, roared and stood up,
"A toast to the Bucker of Princes!" Four Speed shouted.
"Prince bucker! Prince Bucker! Prince Bucker!" Four Speed, Morning Blast, and Nebula chanted, slamming their hooves into the table, causing several Empty bottles to clatter to the floor and break. I found myself hoping the ponies had drank enough that they wouldn't remember the nickname come morning.
"Cut it out!" Sonambula said, having walked over to our table. "You trying to wake the princess?"
"But did you hear that Windjammer-"
"Well good for him," Sonambula said, "Now I think you all had enough, this is last call."
"Aww come on," Four Speed said.
"It's still Early!" Morning Blast whined.
"Finish your drinks, and eat some bread to soak it up," Sonambula said, "Then I expect you all to head back to your quarters."
"Yes Maser Sargent," Four speed said Stumbling toward the unicorn, "But I'm only doing it because you're so damn pretty,"
We all laughed,
Sonambula Smiled, "Don't Tease me, Private." He said.
"Come on, lemme just . . .braid your mane," he joked in slurred speech.
"You get my Motor running you better be willing to drive me home!" Sonambula said sitting back his his corner table.
Four Speed say and rested his head on Nebula's shoulder, as he finished his mug of ale. "Long days doing nothing, bad food, guys like Sonambula on your case all the time. Why did you want to be part of this two bit operation, Windjammer? You could teach fencing, be a bodyguard, be a Mercenary and make buckets of gold, You're free you could be anywhere you want, do anything you want,"
I smiled, holding Obsidian close to me, she seemed a little embarrassed by the affection but nuzzled me all he same.
"I want to be here," I said. "This is not ideal, but is the Princess so cruel a taskmaster?"
"No she is not." Morning Blast said, "She hates being called a goddess, but she owned that to free all those ponies, and rid a nation of an unfair system."
"She did do that," Four speed said, "And she did it, just for kindness, that's all. For that, I'd take a hundred arrows in the butt,"
We all laughed, and raised our nearly empty mugs.
"To the Princess," I said. "May we serve her half as well as she serves us."
"I'll drink to that," Obsidian said.
"Good night Fillies and Gentlecolts!" Sonambula said loudly enough to draw attention, nudging Star-shine who had fallen asleep on the couch under her magazine. "Let's call it a night and sleep it off."
"Come on Nebula, we can have a nightcap at my place,"
"Good night Maser Sergeant," I said as I passed,
"Good night Windjammer, You too Obsidian, take care of this Saddle Arabian lightweight, okay?"
"I'll make sure he gets home Master Sergeant,"
We trotted together back toward the Barracks, the full moon casting a silvery hue over the cobblestones.
"Did you really. . . With a price?" Obsidian asked.
She didn't seem jealous or disgusted, just curious.
"He was a Marquis son, like I said. And it as just," I struggled to find words. "Something I did on a whim. Honestly, I kind of regretted it afterward."
"Like you expected it to be amazing, but it was empty in the end."
I nodded. "Exactly like that."
We climbed the quiet dark stairs of the Barracks, and stood in the hall between our rooms.
"I had boyfriends in college, it was . . .fun but kind of disappointing once all was said and done,."
"That's usually the case, I said, the alcohol in my system making me warm, more honest. "But Obsidian, When you finally meet somepony worth being with the rest just seem like a waste of time."
I felt like a fool as soon as I said it, it was indeed what I felt, what I wanted to say but this was so soon. I wanted to have another night like last night, I wanted a hundred nights like that, but to say it. I turned up my eyes to see Obsidian looking back down at me with those brilliant blue eyes.
"Windjammer," She said clearly seemingly unaffected by her alcohol. "Come on in, I want to show you something."
I did, stepping into the dark room, my heart now beating like a hammer in my chest. She did me the service of ignoring what I'd just said but I'd Still opened myself to her. A kiss, an embrace, a deep friendship, all this was laid on the line and there was a strong chance I'd ruined it.
Obsidian lit a lantern on the wall, and moved her record player across the room, setting a black box on top of the record, setting it on the nightstand near the bed, sitting on the edge of the bed and motioning for me to join her.
"Lay down," Obsidian said with a bright smile, "This is cool,"
I had no idea what she was planning, but I compiled, laying on my back on the soft bed, realizing that it was custom built for Obsidian's size. The black coated mare laid gently on the bed beside me, laying her head on my chest, and snugging close to me, pulling a soft quilt up to our necks. With the large size of the bed and Obsidian's large form I Had the momentary feeling that I was Shrinking but that was mostly the alcohol. The big mare was warm and soft against me, and I couldn't resist embracing her as she nuzzled my neck. I felt like this was a moment I was longing for all my life without knowing it, a beautiful, kind mare in my embrace with little to do but hold each other. If only my words hadn't been so forward.
"Windjammer, you are the sweetest stallion I've ever Met," She said quietly, "I've never had Anypony say anything so kind, so I have to share this with you,"
I realized with relief that perhaps I hand't just made a fool of myself, that perhaps she felt the same way. Obsidian reached up and tuned off the lanterns, and turned on the record player. Gentle jazz music filled the room, and I saw the ceiling come alive with slowly rotating points of light, the box on top of the record player had a light inside, shining up though hundreds of tiny holes to make a star field on the ceiling of the room. It was, to say the least, Beautiful, It was as if we were holding one another in the night sky.
"I don't have Windows in my room," She said, nuzzling my chest. "So I made My own stars."
"It's Amazing," I said,
I she pulled my muzzle to her's and we shared a kiss far more passionate than before, deeper and more full. It was perfect, flawless, and I would have been content forever just knowing I could have shared that moment with someone. We parted our lips and she looked at me with a smile.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" She asked, snuggling close to my chest.
"Well, my bed doesn't have a big snuggly mare in it, no reason not to."
Obsidian giggled with joy, and we shared another deep kiss as we held each other with a passion I hadn't known before, our heartbeats matching and our breath growing heavy. And That, as it were. . .was all it took for my body to respond.
"Oooo, Windjammer," Obsidian said with wide eyes, giggling as she felt me against her; "You like my kisses that much?"
"Just kind of . . Happened,"
"It's okay," She said, giving me soft kisses where my jaw met my neck, "I was, having the same idea."
So, we made love that night. It was not like the others, not in any way at all. With all my other lovers, it was about the mutual need to be satisfied. There was an empty release and nothing afterward. With all my other lovers It was a selfish act. With Obsidian, it was about giving. I wanted to give her love, give her pleasure, and as much as I gave I got in return. Obsidan wanted me to feel as much as she did. So we gave, received and gave again, until both of us together reached the summit in a moment that I cannot accurately describe with simple words.
Everything was strange and new, we had just met yesterday and in that moment we came together as naturally as two drops of water on a rain-soaked window. Love was the only word I could possibly use but the world "love" is so cheap and shallow compared to how I felt. It was a world assigned the enviable task of describing something that by it's nature could not be described. What I can say, is that after we were done, and we shared that big warm bed, there was no doubt in my mind that I loved Obsidian, and no doubt that she loved me. Even if we hadn't found the courage to know the words or speak them aloud we were in love. When we drifted off to sleep, satisfied and exhausted it was the most restful sleep I'd had in decades.
----*----
Obsidian had now Windows to let in the morning sun, but I could see the sunlight in a sharp line under the door, creeping across her floor. Having not drank to much, I was suffering from no headache or dry mouth, but I was still drowsy, though I was convinced we both had slept later than we normally did. Obsidian was already away, yawning and blinking sleepiness from her eyes.
"Good morning," I said,
"Afternoon, Probably." Obsidian said, reaching over to flip on the Lanterns.
The star field on the ceiling was drowned out by the gas lantern's yellow light. While the room was bright, and the sun was up neither of us got out of bed just then. We snuggled close with the unanswered question in our minds: What now?
We had just shared everything, wordlessly declared our love, what came next? It was unexplored territory for me, Terra incognito, there was no frame of reference. Obsidian kissed me once, and seemed to have things figured out a bit more, answering the question I had no answer for.
"Breakfast," She said simply, sliding from under the quilt and flipping open a cabinet next to her bed.
"Yeah, I don't know why but I'm hungry," I said, feeling chilly as I threw off the covers.
"Well, we used a lot of energy last night," Obsidian giggled, lighting the fire in a small pot bellied stove she'd pulled from the cabinet.
"I did," I realized, "I, really liked that,"
Obsidan nodded, pulling a few eggs and slices of bread from her cooler.
"So did I." She said, knocking the bottom of an iron skillet to get the crumbs of the last meal out of it. "It was different,"
"Very different," I agreed.
Obsidan made a simple meal of eggs and fried bread, and warmed up some thick coffee for us to share. It was the strangest sensation, but seeing Obsidian cook for me made me think my my mother. Jamila was a very conservative Arabic mare, she belived a mares place was serving her family, she was caring a nurturing, the head of the household to be sure. We ate breakfast when she said it was time, we came and went with her permission, but she was always caring, always loving. Obsidian was cooking just because it was her home, not out of any matronly duty but It still reminded me of what I haven't had since the Tajir took my family away: A home.
The coffee was hot and warmed me up well though Obsidian preferred it black (Ironic, I know) so she had no cream or sugar, but she made it strong as well (also ironic) so it was bold and chased off the drowsiness. We ate our simple breakfast, the room filled with the words we were still avoiding. Forever there would be the time before we met, and the time after we met. We did not know what this meant, and the moment was so perfect I think both of us worried that this feeling was so fragile discussing it would chase it away. We were in love, and what that meant was unknown for now.
"You probably need to furniture," Obsidian said, changing the subject from what was not being said. "I know a place, stuff's used but it's not expensive. Sonambula has a cart we can borrow."
"I guess I could use a few things," I said, "I don't have any blankets. Probably could use a stove for winter. It'll be nice to see more of Cantelot."
"Furniture shopping," Obsidian laughed, "It's not a bad second date,"
"Well, if it's with you, I don't mind." I said.
Obsidian took a gulp of her coffee, "Well, let's go see Albedo. We have a standing day pass for town but we gotta sign out."
"Albedo douns't get the day off?"
Obsidian thought, "You know, I don't think I've ever seen him outside of his office."
We made our way to the day room to see Albedo in his office, behind the window, as always typing on his typewriter, now listening to a radio that was broadcast in the morning news. It seemed the only change the clerk made on his day off was the radio. Albedo grinned slyly at us as we appeared in the window. He seemed to know what was going on.
"Good afternoon," Albedo said with a raised eyebrows.
"Can we sign out?" I asked, returning his knowing smirk.
"Sure," Albedo said, "And Windjammer, you got a telegram from your father."
This surprised me, "A telegram? He can't afford a telegram,"
"You said he was named Mainsail? From Kaleel?"
"That's him,"
"Then this is from your father." Albedo said.
I took teletype page, I didn't read well so it took me a moment to read it, but what it said was confirmation that Princess Celestia's gambit had indeed worked. He said that with no explanation the night before, the Tajir marched through the Ghettos, throwing everypony out after giving them a bag of gold. He was a bit confused until my father saw news of the Fatwa in a newspaper's evening edition, and knew he was free.
The telegram continued my father and Brothers were currently trying to find my Mother, who had moved out of our old house and in with one of my aunts. I could tell just from the text, he was excited to see his wife again after 15 years. Obsidian was looking at me over the page with wide eyes, biting her lip in anticipation of the news,
"Dad's free," I said, "They're going to see mom,"
Obsidian giggled and lifted me in a big hug, "That's so wonderful!"
"It is!" I grunted, Obsidian hugging me a little harder than she intended. "It's finally over, whenever I get a furlough I can see my Mom,"
"I'm so happy for you, Windjammer," Obsidian said, holding me against her so hard my back cracked.
"Good news I assume," Albedo said with a broad smile.
"The best news," I said, "Albedo, cancel my pay transfer. It seems my father Is alright, No more ghetto, no more 12 hours days, things are going to get better from now on."
Obsidian pulled me in for a kiss, not caring that the room still had a number of idling guard ponies.
"Obsidian, I got something for you too," Albedo said, sliding a form out of the window. "I wish it was good news too, but it's just your run of the mill form.
Obsidian grabbed the form, glancing over it.
"It's an end of service review," Abedo said, "Just read it over and if all the records are correct sign it. You can also add a forwarding address if you know where you'll be staying after your discharge."
"Okay," Obsidian said. "I'll take a look a it."
The two of us were already out of the barracks and headed toward the gate with our day passes, before the gravity of this second bit of paperwork occurred to me.
"You're being discharged?" I asked.
"In a few weeks," Obsidian said,
"Were you. . .going to re-enlist?"
"I can't, I've already done two tours." Obsidian said with a shrug, "So I'm going to finish college, get my degree."
I stopped, causing the Big mare to stop herself, and look at me curiously, "What does this mean, you know. . .for us?" I asked.
Obsidian opened her mouth as if to speak, but said nothing as she thought.
"I mean, I like having you around," I said.
"Windjammer, I'm not sure. . . A week ago there was no us, so I haven't thought about it."
"I know," I said. "I would make no demands of you. . ."
"You never have, and everything we did was somthing I wanted as much as you," She said, "I don't know what we have Windjammer, I don't know why whenever I see you I smile, I don't know why I feel like I can tell you anything, when you came to my room last night, you said I was worth being with,"
"You are," I said.
"Just knowing that a pony like you could want me,"
She shrugged,
"I felt important for the first time, like I was't going to fade into the background my whole life. I don't know what we'll do. I just know, that I'm glad I met you, and I'm glad I'm here With you today."
I never thought I'd hear this quiet mare give a speech like that. It was like she said everything I'd been wanting to say. She had a way with words even if she rarely used them.
"We have a few weeks, that's plenty of time to figure things out." I said.
"You know, there aren't any stories that talk about what happened after a happy ending," Obsidian said with a laugh,
"Maybe they're aren't any endings,happy or otherwise" I offered, "Just one thing happening after another, with some happiness in there somewhere for those that are willing to look for it."
The big mare hugged me gently, "Well, I found you." She said.
"I'm glad you did," I said returning the hug.